Occupational lung disease

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Feary ◽  
Joanna Szram ◽  
Paul Cullinan
Keyword(s):  
Lung Disease ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Select Work ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases ◽  
Developed World

Occupational lung diseases are under-recognized by most general (and respiratory) physicians. When affected individuals are of working age, the diagnosis can result in significant socio-economic consequences. A comprehensive knowledge of all occupational lung diseases is beyond the remit of most respiratory physicians, but an understanding of the relationships between work and disease is crucial to ensure that cases are not missed. This chapter presents two contrasting cases. The first is a ‘traditional’ case of occupational asthma, the most commonly reported occupational lung disease in the United Kingdom (as well as in most ‘developed world’ countries). The second case describes a rare disease (obliterative bronchiolitis) recently linked to a few select work exposures, highlighting the complexity of establishing causation in suspected occupational disease, particularly one uncommon in the general population. An occupational history should be taken in all cases of respiratory disease; access to specialist advice is freely available and frequently invaluable.

scholarly journals Current and new challenges in occupational lung diseases

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (146) ◽  
pp. 170080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara De Matteis ◽  
Dick Heederik ◽  
Alex Burdorf ◽  
Claudio Colosio ◽  
Paul Cullinan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Disease ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases ◽  
New Challenges

Occupational lung diseases are an important public health issue and are avoidable through preventive interventions in the workplace. Up-to-date knowledge about changes in exposure to occupational hazards as a result of technological and industrial developments is essential to the design and implementation of efficient and effective workplace preventive measures. New occupational agents with unknown respiratory health effects are constantly introduced to the market and require periodic health surveillance among exposed workers to detect early signs of adverse respiratory effects. In addition, the ageing workforce, many of whom have pre-existing respiratory conditions, poses new challenges in terms of the diagnosis and management of occupational lung diseases. Primary preventive interventions aimed to reduce exposure levels in the workplace remain pivotal for elimination of the occupational lung disease burden. To achieve this goal there is still a clear need for setting standard occupational exposure limits based on transparent evidence-based methodology, in particular for carcinogens and sensitising agents that expose large working populations to risk. The present overview, focused on the occupational lung disease burden in Europe, proposes directions for all parties involved in the prevention of occupational lung disease, from researchers and occupational and respiratory health professionals to workers and employers.

Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases: Diagnosis and Prevention

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cora S Sack ◽  
Sverre Vedal ◽  
Joel D Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases

Environmental and occupational lung diseases encompass a diverse group of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of potentially harmful substances. Although workplace regulations and the changing economy in the United States have significantly decreased incidence, these diseases remain both common and associated with significant morbidity. In addition, novel exposures continue to be recognized as new causes of disease. This review provides the medical student and clinician with a framework for approaching and categorizing environmental and occupational lung disease. It also presents an in-depth discussion of the epidemiology, biological mechanisms, diagnosis, and clinical care of some of the more commonly encountered diseases. Occupational lung diseases that affect the airways, such as work-related asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and malignant neoplasms are covered. This review concludes with general strategies to help prevent disease incidence and progression.     This review contains 1 figure, 5 tables, and 56 references. Key words: bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, irritant-induced occupational asthma, mesothelioma, occupational asthma, occupational lung disease, occupational lung neoplasm, work-related asthma

Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases: Diagnosis and Prevention

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cora S Sack ◽  
Sverre Vedal ◽  
Joel D Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases

Environmental and occupational lung diseases encompass a diverse group of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of potentially harmful substances. Although workplace regulations and the changing economy in the United States have significantly decreased incidence, these diseases remain both common and associated with significant morbidity. In addition, novel exposures continue to be recognized as new causes of disease. This review provides the medical student and clinician with a framework for approaching and categorizing environmental and occupational lung disease. It also presents an in-depth discussion of the epidemiology, biological mechanisms, diagnosis, and clinical care of some of the more commonly encountered diseases. Occupational lung diseases that affect the airways, such as work-related asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and malignant neoplasms are covered. This review concludes with general strategies to help prevent disease incidence and progression.     This review contains 1 figure, 5 tables, and 56 references. Key words: bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, irritant-induced occupational asthma, mesothelioma, occupational asthma, occupational lung disease, occupational lung neoplasm, work-related asthma

An Analytical Study Carried Out to Identify Symptoms of Occupational Lung Diseases and Preventive Measures among Workers Involved in Marble Industries in Rajsamand District of Rajasthan

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (02) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Kalika Gupta ◽  
Mitin Parmar ◽  
Pranav Bhavsar ◽  
Milan Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Lung Disease ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases

BACKGROUND Occupational lung diseases are diseases affecting the respiratory system, including occupational asthma, black lung disease and many more. Workers exposed to marble dust stand an increased risk of suffering from asthma symptoms, chronic bronchitis, nasal inflammation and impairment of lung functions. The recognition of occupational causes can be made difficult by years of latency between exposure in the workplace and the occurrence of disease. Through this study, authors have established the importance of early identification of symptoms of occupational lung diseases and the importance of preventive measures that can be applied to reduce incidence of such diseases. METHODS This was a cross sectional community-based study conducted on 340 marble mining or cutting workers of Rajnagar [Morwar], Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, for a duration of three months. Workers were clinically examined and asked about environmental conditions and use of preventive measures through a questionnaire designed by the investigators and with the help of pamphlets and videos, educational interventions were provided. RESULTS Almost 90 % of the workers didn’t use protective measure like mask or shield. Among the 10 % workers who were using safety measures, 60 % were using face mask and 20 % were using apron at the work place. After the educational intervention given by investigators, around 63 % had started using various safety measures. CONCLUSIONS Early interventions after development of symptoms are important as they can decrease chances of further worsening of the condition. Health education, periodic health check-ups and use of protective measures are the essence in preventing occupational lung diseases. KEYWORDS Occupational Lung Disease, Cough, Marble Workers, Silicosis

scholarly journals Household level health and socio-economic vulnerabilities and the COVID-19 crisis: An analysis from the UK

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Mikolai ◽  
Katherine Keenan ◽  
Hill Kulu
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Representative Study ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk

Objectives. To investigate how COVID-19-related health and socio-economic vulnerabilities occur at the household level, and how they are distributed across household types and geographical areas in the United Kingdom. Design. Cross-sectional, nationally representative study. Setting. The United Kingdom. Participants. ~19,500 households. Main outcome measures. Using multiple household-level indicators and principal components analysis, we derive summary measures representing different dimensions of household vulnerabilities critical during the COVID-19 epidemic: health, employment, housing, financial and digital. Results. Our analysis highlights three key findings. First, although COVID-19 health risks are concentrated in retirement-age households, a substantial proportion of working age households also face these risks. Second, different types of households exhibit different vulnerabilities, with working-age households more likely to face financial, housing and employment precarities, and retirement-age households health and digital vulnerabilities. Third, there are area-level differences in the distribution of vulnerabilities across England and the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. Conclusions. The findings imply that the short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis are likely to vary by household type. Policy measures that aim to mitigate the health and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic should consider how vulnerabilities cluster together across different household types, and how these may exacerbate already existing inequalities.

scholarly journals Surveillance of Occupational Lung Diseases in Canada

1996 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-294
Author(s):  
Helen Dimich-Ward ◽  
Gustavo R Contreras ◽  
Roxanne Rousseau ◽  
Moira Chan-Yeung
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Occupational Lung Diseases

Surveillance programs for occupational lung diseases are reviewed, with reference to a two-year pilot study that was undertaken in the province of British Columbia. Members of the British Columbia Thoracic Society were invited to participate by reporting any new cases of occupational lung disease in each two-month period. Participating physicians responded well during the first year of the pilot study, but longer term commitment was difficult to maintain. It is recommend that physicians be educated, starting in medical school, about the recognition and diagnosis of occupational diseases and the importance of surveillance of chronic diseases. The authors encourage, at least on a trial basis, a nationally based surveillance program of occupational lung diseases.

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